On an unrelated note, I have a quick follow-up to may last piece on Apple's Aperture software: I received many questions about the database that Aperture uses and whether the application can be connected to a SQL database to enable distributed workflow and field submissions. Aperture stores all of the metadata in XML files that must be run as a local application. However, since the XML files are open and accessible, a plug-in/application could be written to transfer the RAW files to a SQL database as binary large objects (BLOB) and parse the XML files into the proper tables. I sense an opportunity for an enterprising developer.

Did I miss something? Do you have feedback? Send your questions, comments and curses to y.kossovsky@ieee.org.